Today's Service: 24 October
Leader: Eve Mortimer
We continue with our services in paper-based, web-based and Facebook live streaming formats whilst our church building is made safe to use.
Keep up-to-date on www.nurc.info
This is best viewed in Landscape orientation
You will appreciate the sound better if you use earphones or an external loudspeaker, whatever type of device you view on.
Better still, view it on your Smart TV, if you can.
Call to Worship: - Job 42: 1 - 6
42 Then Job replied to the LORD:
2 "I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
3 You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?'
Surely, I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.
4 "You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.'
5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.
6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes."
Hymn: Amazing Grace
tune of the same name, without intro.
1. Amazing grace (how sweet the sound)
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.
2. 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved.
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!
3. Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come:
'tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.
4. The Lord has promised good to me,
his word my hope secures.
he will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.
5. Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease:
I shall possess, within the veil,
a life of joy and peace.
6. The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
the sun forbear to shine.
but God, who called me here below,
will be forever mine.
John Newton (1725-1807)
Reading: Mark 10: 46 - 52 Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus
46 They came to Jericho, and as Jesus was leaving with his disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus son of Timaeus was sitting by the road.
47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!"
48 Many of the people scolded him and told him to be quiet. But he shouted even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
49 Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So, they called the blind man. "Cheer up!" they said. "Get up, he is calling you."
50 So he threw off his cloak, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
51 "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. "Teacher," the blind man answered, "I want to see again."
52 "Go," Jesus told him, "Your faith has made you well." At once he was able to see and followed Jesus on the road.
Prayer
O Jesus Christ, teacher and healer,
you heard the cry of the blind beggar
when others would have silenced him.
Teach us to be attentive
to the voice's others ignore,
that we might respond
through the power of the Spirit
to heal the afflicted
and to welcome the abandoned
for your sake and the sake of the gospel.
We ask this is Jesus' name as we say together the words that Jesus taught
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hymn: - The Light of the World is Jesus
'The whole world was lost', with intro.
1. The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Like sunshine at noonday, His glory shone in;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Refrain:
Come to the light, 'tis shining for thee;
Sweetly the light has dawned upon me;
Once I was blind, but now I can see:
The Light of the world is Jesus!
2. No darkness have we who in Jesus abide;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
We walk in the light when we follow our Guide!
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Refrain
3. Ye dwellers in darkness with sin-blinded eyes,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Go, wash at His bidding, and light will arise;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Refrain
4. No need of the sunlight in Heaven we're told;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
The Lamb is the Light in the city of gold,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Refrain
P. P. Bliss (1838-76)
Reading: Psalm 34: 1 - 8
34 I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 O magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me,
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Look to him, and be radiant;
so your faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This po or soul cried, and was heard by the Lord,
and was saved from every trouble.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good;
happy are those who take refuge in him.
Reflection
I'm struck first by the unlimited scope of this psalm: "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth"; "he … delivered me from all my fears"; "your faces shall never be ashamed"; "This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord, and was saved from every trouble." There are no limits to God's loving grace and care. Truly taking refuge in God's powerful love delivers us from all our fears, it saves us from every trouble. Our understandable fears and anxieties over Covid-19 are not exempt. We won't find relief from these fears by looking at the latest statistics online. Relief from our anxiety will come instead from taking refuge in God's love in Christ and by crying out to our loving God in prayer. We certainly don't have to have our act fully together to do so. The psalmist acknowledges that he is a "poor soul" and yet his cry "was heard by the LORD."
Even more startling is the outcome of this poor soul's prayer. It's not just that things turned out better than he expected. Nor is it only that his fears were relieved. Nor did he return to a kind of blah middle ground, no longer debilitated by fear, but still kind of gloomy. The psalm's promise is of positive radiance ("Look to the LORD and be radiant") and happiness ("happy are those who take refuge in the LORD"). And that's exactly what the psalmist experienced: radiant happiness. Read those first three lines: he's exultant! In the next three, his joy overflows: he calls on other poor souls ("the humble") to join him in his glad praise of the LORD.
This may sound like too much to hope for, but why not aim high? The outcome's not dependent on our strength, but on God's gracious response to a poor soul's prayer. We can act on the encouragement of this psalm, and, like the psalmist, we can encourage others to do so, too.
At this time in the life of our church, when we are not meeting together for communal worship, we can still invite one another to "exalt [God's] name together." We can share our prayer requests by phone, email, or text. We can pray for ourselves and for others "at all times." This doesn't mean at every second of every day, but at all kinds of times: mealtimes, bedtimes, times alone, times with other people, not-turning-on-the-TV-or-other-devices times …). We can also support one another in other practical ways and so be ourselves answers to prayer. We can report prayers answered and needs met and invite others to be glad with us.
I believe that we learn more about God's goodness in times of trial than when everything's going just great. Or perhaps our learning comes a little later when, after the trial, we're able to look back and see how good God has been to us in our trouble. This seems to be how it worked for the psalmist: he's rejoicing, after the event, over what God has done for him, and calling on others to join him in thanksgiving in the present.
So, I invite you to "taste and see that the LORD is good" and to enjoy the blessed happiness of "those who take refuge in him."
Grace and peace to you all.
Prayers of intercession
God of all creation, you hold the depths of the earth in your hands.
You are closer to us than the air we breathe.
Fill our souls with your wonderful love and light.
Give us strength and courage to reflect that love and light in the world.
Let us never shrink back from who we are in you or hide our light inside ourselves. Renew in us a sense of joy, painting the dark shadows around us with your light, your love and your salvation.
Hear us today as we pray for a world too often darkened by hatred, evil, power and greed.
Within our darkest night, Let your light shine.
God of power and might, your broken world cries out from the depths, a world dominated by the darkness of war, terror, pain and suffering.
We think of the on-going and deepening conflict in the Middle East.
We share the pain and anguish of those who have had to flee from their homes,
countries and livelihoods, who risk their lives, desperate for a new start free from fear and war.
May they see your light, feel your strength and power and know the truth of your promise
that we shall not be overcome by the dark shadows of life or the darkness of human nature.
Within our darkest night, Let your light shine.
God of compassion and grace, we share with you our love and concern for people in a dark place today.
We have on our hearts the friends and loved ones of the victims of violence and hatred.
We pray that they will find your strength in the compassion and love of those around them.
We pray for tolerance in our society.
We pray for all Muslims suffering from Anti-Islamic hate crimes.
Let your light shine through the darkness of all their pain and their suffering.
Within our darkest night, Let your light shine.
God of life, we ask for your healing power on those who are enduring pain and illness.
We especially think of all those we name quietly in our hearts ……………
We share the grief of people close to us, who've recently lost loved ones.
We especially think of all those we name quietly in our hearts ……………
We especially think of the family, friends and constituents of Sir David Amess who was tragically killed this week while performing his duties.
We remember that as we weep with the grieving, we embrace the joy that their lives brought to those they knew.
We know your everlasting light shines with us, in moments of great sadness and great joy.
Within our darkest night, Let your light shine.
God of love and hope,
Renew in us a deeper sense of who we are in you.
Help us to be aware of your presence each and every day.
Make us instruments of love and praise.
May our words, actions and lives be living examples of your forgiving, healing, life-giving love.
Amen.
Hymn: Let it be Jesus
Listen to Christy Nockels
1. Let it be Jesus
The first name that I call
Let it be Jesus
My song inside the storm
I'll never need another
2. For me to live is Christ
For me to live is Christ
And God I breathe Your name
Above everything
Let it be
Let it be Jesus
3. Let it be Jesus
From the rising of the sun
Let it be Jesus
When all is said and done
4. I'll never need another
Jesus, there's no other
For me to live is Christ
For me to live is Christ
And God I breathe Your name
Above everything
Let it be
Let it be Jesus
5. Should I ever be abandoned
Should I ever be acclaimed
Should I ever be surrounded
By the fire and the flame
There's a name I will remember
There's a name I will proclaim
Let it be
Let it be Jesus
Chris Tomlin (b. 1972)
Blessing
May the strength of God sustain us; the power of God preserve us;
may the hands of God protect us; may the way of God direct us; may the love of God go with us this day and forever.
Amen
Amen
Amen
Next week, the service will be led by Derek Jackson
Don't forget the live streamed hymns on Sundays at 10:45 a.m. from Zöe (via the 'Northgate URC Darlington' Facebook page)
These are available to view later as well. (via YouTube, for those without Facebook, and also Facebook)
The streamings are a great success - well done, Zöe!
The recorded streamings are now, thanks to Harry Marshall, available to all on YouTube - search for 'Northgate URC Darlington'.
Ask Harry to invite you to the Northgate Facebook Group 
and you will get a notification of the live stream.
- Or you can just search for 'Northgate URC Darlington' in Facebook.
The URC denominational church audio Services (podcasts) at https://devotions.urc.org.uk/ are excellent, with well-delivered prayers and readings using a selection of voices and well-presented hymns.
Do give these a try - they are excellent.
(Just start the sound playing and scroll down to the written words)
Why not put the time aside for Zoe at 10:45, our preacher's service after that and follow up with the podcast - you will feel as if you had been IN church, as well as WITH church.
For further information, contact: bobj398@outlook.com